Stress is an incredibly vulnerable topic for me, especially because it ties into my mental wellness which isn’t a strength of mine, but a weakness instead. Not only does it motivate me to make important decisions in life, but it also brings discouragement when I’m faced with a difficult task. School, family, and sports are among my most common stressors and it’s difficult to say whether or not I can juggle all three at once. What I do know is that stress has definitely taken a toll on me both physically and mentally. I’ve always been burdened with high expectations, self-conscious thoughts, and constantly being with to others. Because of this, I’ve always had a relatively low self-esteem especially during middle school and even early into high school. While there are many ways to cope with such stress, I found that listening to music provided a sense of comfort and relief that no other outlet could provide. It helped me escape from reality that is school, family, and sports, even if it was only a temporary solution. Most, if not all my screen time comes from using Spotify for hours at a time and I even listen to music in my sleep. Whenever there’s a stressful situation in my life, Spotify and a pair of AirPods is all I need to face the problem.

Core Competency Reflection

I find it easy to be part of a group.

It’s easy for me to do group projects and activities because I always keep an open mind and establish common interests among others to find common ground. Not only does this create an early relationship with one another, but it also gives me the opportunity to get to know other people that I haven’t met. Chemistry is key in group activities, so, it is important to form bonds as a team early on. Through this, we can easily create achievable goals and strive to make our best work through our combined efforts.

I am kind to others, and support others when they need it.

I always lend my support to classmates and treat them with kindness and respect because you never know their situation and whatever they may be going through. Just because someone treats you worse than you treat them doesn’t mean they’re rude or selfish. Instead, they might be expressing some of their pent-up anger from personal problems at home, with friends, etc. Whenever someone comes up to me for help, I’m always willing to provide as much as I know to help them understand the material properly.

I demonstrate respectful, inclusive behavior. 

Inclusive and respectful behavior is something I’ve always demonstrated in the classroom, with peers, and during group discussions. Not only is it common sense, but it creates a sense of belonging for other people who may not feel like they fit in. Even if I disagree with what the person is saying, I can either keep it to myself, or express my opinion in a way that benefits the discussion. An inclusive environment means a more productive workspace because nobody has to worry about their identity, culture, and family background.